On Thursday, 28-year-old Dakota Jolley was sentenced to 30 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary after entering an Alford plea to three counts of aggravated assault stemming from violent attacks against his significant other.
The assaults, documented in video evidence, included two incidents of strangulation and one in which Jolley pointed a loaded handgun at the victim while she held a young child.
Seventh Circuit Judge Matthew Brown handed down consecutive 15-year sentences on two counts and a concurrent five-year sentence on the third. Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Alexa Moeller, who prosecuted the case, urged a lengthy sentence, citing the repeated and life-threatening nature of the attacks.
Aggravated assault is a Class 3 felony, carrying up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. In addition to the state sentence, Jolley also received 10 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Comments